After Being Blackened All Over the Internet, I Ruled the Military Variety Shows
Chapter 584 - 574: Invitation Turmoil

Chapter 584: Chapter 574: Invitation Turmoil

Yuan Hui received a definite promise and left with anticipation for the arrival of tomorrow.

As soon as he left, the real owner of the seat next to Jiang Lingxi arrived.

Xu Ling’an and Xu Lei helped Gao Lan sit down from both sides.

"When did sister arrive?"

"Not long ago."

After saying just a few words, Xu Ling’an was called away by Zhang Nachuan, the birthday boy, to introduce him to a group of his friends and show off.

Jiang Lingxi poured a cup of water for Gao Lan and gestured to Xu Lei to help himself, her peripheral vision catching sight of Zhang Anfeng’s family of four approaching.

On the day of the old man’s grand birthday, the smiles on these four faces seemed very forced.

Especially since they hardly spoke to anyone along the way, their smiles became harder to maintain.

Zhang Lingxuan sat down and bowed her head, her smile disappearing in an instant, replaced by a gloomy expression.

While she walked over, she had already seen it. Grandfather was accompanied by Xu Ling’an at the table where almost all the famous figures in the calligraphy and painting world were seated.

These people had also been invited to past birthday banquets, but neither she nor her father had been introduced and acquainted with them by the grandfather as Xu Ling’an had.

What a significant network and connections, yet Grandfather did not even consider his own son and cheerfully offered them all to Xu Ling’an, an outsider girl!

Resentment and injustice gnawed at her heart like two sharp teeth.

But what she couldn’t accept was yet to come.

Zhang Anfeng mustered his spirit and patted his son and daughter’s shoulders.

"Alright, don’t get discouraged, perk up, and don’t ruin my plans, or you two will be in trouble!"

Finally waiting for the old man to finish showing off his granddaughter and return to his seat for a rest and a cup of tea, the family of four, who had been secretly observing, hurriedly got up and walked over.

"Dad, I brought Lin Yi, Xuanxuan, and Xiao Zhou to wish you a happy birthday!"

Zhang Nachuan was still angry with his son.

He, Zhang Nachuan, had lived an honest life, yet had a son who was solely focused on making money through shady means.

Even the granddaughter, perhaps under the influence of her father, only eyed what others had, without considering whether she could acquire it, leading to a divorce.

The grandson was idle and clearly couldn’t take on any responsibility.

Now he had no one he could look up to.

Were it not for the excellent learning and character of the granddaughter he had recognized, he would have ridiculed himself for an unfortunate family.

"Alright," he waved his hand, frowning with some impatience, "after wishing me happy birthday, just go sit quietly and wait for the feast."

Zhang Anfeng’s movement stiffened, his face thick but unmoving. Seeing his father’s growing impatience, and disregarding Jiang Lingxi and the others at the same table, he said, "Dad, when I came, I saw that the invitation list for the Yuan’s charity gala was out, and your name was on it."

"So," Zhang Nachuan placed his cup on the table, "what’s it to you?"

"You’ve never liked such occasions, saying they’re too noisy. That invitation would be wasted if left with you. Why not give it to me, it would be of great use."

Seeing the old man silent, Zhang Anfeng quickly seized the opportunity, "I’ve stopped all those businesses you didn’t want me to do, but the company is now severely damaged. I have hundreds of people to support, and I’m almost unable to pay their salaries. But if I had your invitation, maybe I could negotiate a big contract at tomorrow’s gala to revive the company."

"Really about to be unable to pay salaries?"

Zhang Anfeng was instantly delighted, though on his face he showed worry and nodded, "Yes, I’ve dutifully compensated those people you wanted me to, not short a cent, and now there’s really no money left in the company’s account."

A lucrative big deal is urgently needed for recovery.

The Yuan’s charity gala, with its gathering of celebrities, is a great opportunity because those celebrities are not short of money and are keen on patronage.

Otherwise, why would they eagerly send invitations to the old man? They must value his reputation in the art circle.

By then, even if not for him, for the sake of his father being Zhang Nachuan, good opportunities should arise.

But the premise is that he gets to attend the charity gala with the invitation.

"Then explain things to the employees, lay off some with compensation, and don’t force what you can’t support. You know your own capabilities."

Zhang Anfeng felt a bucket of ice water poured over him, chilling him to the core.

"Dad? How can you say that!"

"Why, is my advice not fair enough? Why should my invitation go to you? I never knew you had such a thick skin!"

Now not only Zhang Anfeng himself, but also Lin Yi beside him, and Zhang Lingxuan and Zhang Lingzhou behind him, felt their faces burn.

So many people, couldn’t the old man spare his own son a little dignity?

They completely forgot that it was they who were demanding something that was never theirs in the first place. The old man didn’t want to give, and it was the son who was relentlessly pressing.

The invitation isn’t needed by you, I’m your own son, why can’t I use it?"

A flash of hurt crossed Zhang Nachuan’s eyes quickly but went unnoticed, "So you’re here not to wish me happy birthday but to get the invitation, huh? Who said I wouldn’t use it? This time, I really plan to go!"

"Dad, are you joking?"

"Out!"

"Dad, how about I accompany you then?"

"An’an accompanying me is enough, no need for your pretend filial piety here. Shut up and get out! Out, out, out!"

As the old man’s voice grew uncontrollably louder, guests at the surrounding tables began to look over.

Feeling the piercing gazes around, Zhang Anfeng was thoroughly embarrassed and, casting a resentful glance at Xu Ling’an, who had gained from the situation, turned and left in large strides.

Why stay, to continue being humiliated?

Lin Yi was even more timid in front of the old man. Seeing the old man glance over, she quickly turned and followed her husband away.

The siblings remained, and Zhang Nachuan softened his tone, "You two..."

"Grandpa, Xiao Zhou and I will go check on Mom and Dad."

The intended "Go back to your seats and wait for the meal quietly" was swallowed back by Zhang Nachuan as he watched the siblings walk away and called a waiter to point at the table, "Remove that table."

It’s a heartache and an eyesore!

Even though Zhang Anfeng’s family of four was driven away by the old man, for a while, no one at the table dared to speak.

Some even sighed.

This seventieth birthday, once in a lifetime, and Zhang Anfeng chose this moment to upset the old man. It truly leaves one speechless.

Or perhaps he thought that the old man would have to agree in front of so many people.

Who would have thought, he’d encounter a stubborn old father.

"Mr. Zhang, this Yuan’s charity gala invitation, can it be transferred? What if someone loses it and another person picks it up and attends?"

As soon as Jiang Lingxi spoke, the atmosphere at the table slightly relaxed.

"It can be transferred, but the organizer needs to be informed in advance to change the guest’s identity. Even if found, it can’t be used to get in."

"That’s quite rigorous. By the way, do you really plan to take An’an with you?"

Since the words had been said, Zhang Nachuan nodded, "Yes, better to stop others from thinking about it. And it’ll broaden her horizons."

Everyone upon hearing this: "..."

Fortunately, Zhang Anfeng left.

The opportunity for which he risked offending the old man at the birthday banquet, is now being used by the old man to broaden the younger generation’s horizons.

This kind of favoritism, had he heard it, he might just be frustrated enough to vomit blood!

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